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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Kim Jong Un Quietly Advances North Korea's Nuclear Program
North Korea has begun work on a new facility at its main nuclear complex, according to the head of the United Nations-backed atomic watchdog. The facility, which reportedly resembles a suspected enrichment plant just outside of the capital of Pyongyang, could eventually provide fissile material to expand the country's nuclear arsenal. North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to continue building his UN-sanctioned nuclear arsenal, citing the "grave threat" posed by the U.S. and its allies, according to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads and enough fissile material for as many as 90. Kim's emphasis on expanding this capability—along with frequent ballistic missile tests and the abandonment of reunification as a long-term goal—has driven inter-Korean tensions to their highest level in decades. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China and the U.S. Department of Defense with emailed requests for comment. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a June 9 statement that the agency is "monitoring" a new construction at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, located about 60 miles north of Pyongyang. The new building has features and dimensions closely resembling those of the Kangson site, a facility west of the capital long suspected to be a uranium enrichment plant believed to produce uranium-235, the fissile material essential for nuclear weapons. "The continuation and further development of the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea's) nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable," Grossi said, using North Korea's official name. The report comes after news late last year that Kim Jong Un visited the Kangson facility. During the visit, he called for an increase in centrifuge production for weapons-grade material and warned against complacency, according to state media. In April, Grossi warned North Korea's progress on its nuclear agenda was "completely off the charts," with no effective way to monitor its activities. Attempts to stem the flow of materials that could aid Kim's nuclear program became even more problematic last year when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts enforcing sanctions on North Korea. Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center think tank's Korea Program and North Korea-focused analysis group 38 North, wrote for the Hudson Institute think tank: "Changing how the United States approaches its bilateral relationship with North Korea, not just the nuclear issue, will require enormous political capital, leadership, and resilience to criticism. "The nuclear issue will still need to be part of the discussion, but keeping it as the main determinant of relations will prolong the stalemate and worsen the security environment." U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned lawmakers in March that North Korea is "probably prepared" to conduct a seventh nuclear test on short notice. Members of President Donald Trump's team have reportedly discussed reopening dialogue with Kim, according to sources familiar with the discussions. During his first term, Trump met with Kim on three occasions in a failed bid to persuade the North Korean leader to walk back his nuclear weapons program. Related Articles Satellite Image Hints at North Korea's Biggest Military FactoryNorth Korea Airbrushes Commander From Photos After Warship FailKim Jong Un Doubles Down on Destroyers for North Korea's NavyNorth Korea Rejects Trump's Letter to Kim: Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Kim Jong Un Quietly Advances North Korea's Nuclear Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has begun work on a new facility at its main nuclear complex, according to the head of the United Nations-backed atomic watchdog. The facility, which reportedly resembles a suspected enrichment plant just outside of the capital of Pyongyang, could eventually provide fissile material to expand the country's nuclear arsenal. Why It Matters North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to continue building his UN-sanctioned nuclear arsenal, citing the "grave threat" posed by the U.S. and its allies, according to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads and enough fissile material for as many as 90. Kim's emphasis on expanding this capability—along with frequent ballistic missile tests and the abandonment of reunification as a long-term goal—has driven inter-Korean tensions to their highest level in decades. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China and the U.S. Department of Defense with emailed requests for comment. What To Know Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a June 9 statement that the agency is "monitoring" a new construction at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, located about 60 miles north of Pyongyang. The new building has features and dimensions closely resembling those of the Kangson site, a facility west of the capital long suspected to be a uranium enrichment plant believed to produce uranium-235, the fissile material essential for nuclear weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the launch ceremony for a new destroyer at the Raijin shipyard on June 12, 2025. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the launch ceremony for a new destroyer at the Raijin shipyard on June 12, 2025. Korean Central News Agency "The continuation and further development of the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea's) nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable," Grossi said, using North Korea's official name. The report comes after news late last year that Kim Jong Un visited the Kangson facility. During the visit, he called for an increase in centrifuge production for weapons-grade material and warned against complacency, according to state media. In April, Grossi warned North Korea's progress on its nuclear agenda was "completely off the charts," with no effective way to monitor its activities. Attempts to stem the flow of materials that could aid Kim's nuclear program became even more problematic last year when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts enforcing sanctions on North Korea. What People Have Said Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center think tank's Korea Program and North Korea-focused analysis group 38 North, wrote for the Hudson Institute think tank: "Changing how the United States approaches its bilateral relationship with North Korea, not just the nuclear issue, will require enormous political capital, leadership, and resilience to criticism. "The nuclear issue will still need to be part of the discussion, but keeping it as the main determinant of relations will prolong the stalemate and worsen the security environment." What's Next U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned lawmakers in March that North Korea is "probably prepared" to conduct a seventh nuclear test on short notice. Members of President Donald Trump's team have reportedly discussed reopening dialogue with Kim, according to sources familiar with the discussions. During his first term, Trump met with Kim on three occasions in a failed bid to persuade the North Korean leader to walk back his nuclear weapons program.
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
These six people took Iran's nuclear programme to next level with exceptional contribution until June 13 when..., they were...
New Delhi: Israeli jets destroyed many military and nuclear sites in Iran on June 13, 2025. Their main focus was on in and around Tehran and Natanz. This attack eliminated some of the most prolific names engaged in the Persian country's nuclear programme and the top brass of the military. However, a few names stand out due to the vital knowledge and expertise. They were the pioneers in Iran's nuclear project. They include Fereydoun Abbasi, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Motlabizadeh, Syed Amirhossein Feqhi, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari and Abdolhamid Minouchehr. These six scientists were on the radar of Israel's establishment. Let us try to figure out what their deaths mean to Iran. Abdolhamid Minouchehr: Abdolhamid Minouchehr was a nuclear physicist at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran and widely celebrated for his work on uranium enrichment. Minouchehr played a crucial part in advancing Iran's centrifuge systems at Natanz. It was due to his research that Iran could enrich uranium to 20% purity. Ahmadreza Zolfaghari: Ahmadreza Zolfaghari was also from Shahid Beheshti University. He specialised in the design and upkeep of advanced centrifuges. Ahmadreza Zolfaghari had worked with the teams at Natanz and Fordow. He and the teams at Natanz and Fordow pushed the limits of IR-8 technology, an Iranian model capable of enriching uranium at unprecedented speeds. Seyed Amirhossein Feqhi: Seyed Amirhossein Feqhi was a reactor design expert. Seyed Amirhossein Feqhi's work on the Arak heavy water reactor marked a key milestone in Iran's ambitions to produce plutonium. He was deeply involved in the safety architecture of nuclear facilities. Motlabizadeh: Motlabizadeh was an engineer and a senior leader within Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. He was closely linked to dual-use research straddling nuclear technology and ballistic missiles. According to multiple defense analysts, he played a role in developing the trigger mechanisms for nuclear weapons and that made him a prime target. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi: Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi was president of the Islamic Azad University. He was a physicist who played a vital role in bridging academic research with Iran's nuclear infrastructure, shaping young talent to sustain the country's nuclear programme over the next decade. Fereydoun Abbasi: Fereydoun Abbasi was a former chief of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran and a UN-sanctioned person for his alleged work on nuclear weaponisation. The killing of these professionals has hurt Iran's nuclear programme badly.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak's Punjab Speaker backs Saifullah Kasuri, a key Lashkar terrorist involved in Pahalgam attack
Malik Ahmed Khan, the Speaker of Pakistan's Punjab Assembly, has come under scrutiny after publicly defending Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri — a key terrorist allegedly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. In a video circulating on social media, Malik Ahmed Khan defended Kasuri during a rally, dismissing allegations against him by insisting he should not be treated as an accused "without an investigation." Earlier, on May 28, Khan was seen seated in the front row at a public programme in Kasur, Punjab, alongside Saifullah Khalid — considered a mastermind of the Pahalgam attack — and Talha Saeed, son of UN-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Saeed and de facto head of LeT. Both Khalid and Talha are listed as global terrorists, with Khalid being officially designated by the US. The rally, organised by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) to mark Youm-e-Takbeer, also featured senior leaders, including food minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and close associates of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. The LeT-linked figures, including Saeed, Kasuri, and Amir Hamza, were seen prominently seated and interacting with political leaders. In the video shared on X, Malik Ahmed Khan also mentioned his personal ties to Kasur — the town where the rally took place — further deepening the controversy. The presence of top LeT operatives at the rally attracted attention from foreign policy observers, especially after some of them boasted publicly about having avenged Pakistan's 1971 defeat to India. US-designated terrorists Saifullah Kasuri and Muzammil Hashmi claimed credit for their involvement in a so-called "coup" in Bangladesh while addressing supporters at rallies held last week. "We emerged victorious against you in Bangladesh last year," they declared. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the target of their vitriol during a rally organised by the Lashkar-e-Taiba's political front, the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), in Gujranwala on May 28. Hashmi was heard proclaiming: 'Tum hamein apni goli se darate ho, Modi hum tujhe paigham dete hain, humare bachche teri missailon se nahi dare, hum teri goli se kya darenge.' (You try to scare us with your bullets, Modi, but we send you a message — our children are not afraid of your missiles, why would we fear your bullets?) At another rally in Rahim Yar Khan, Kasuri drew historical parallels with the 1971 Bangladesh war, claiming that his outfit had avenged Pakistan's defeat. "I was four years old when Pakistan was dismembered in 1971. The then Indian PM Indira Gandhi had declared that she had drowned the two-nation theory in the khaleej (Bay of Bengal). On May 10, we took the revenge of 1971," he told supporters. Kasuri also spoke of the Indian airstrikes on Muridke that killed fellow terrorist Mudassar, expressing emotional pain over being prevented from attending his funeral. "I was not allowed to attend his funeral. On the day of his funeral, I cried a lot," he said. Several Pakistani ministers were seen at the same events, where they shared the stage with LeT operatives. They were seen greeting and interacting with them at the rally in Kasur. Kasuri, believed to be the key planner behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, made a surprise appearance at the PMML gathering. The Indian government has linked the attack to LeT's proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF). While addressing the crowd, Kasuri not only raised anti-India slogans but also referred to slain terrorists killed in India's Operation Sindoor as 'martyrs.' "India labelled me the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack while I was busy taking part in events and people's happiness took the name 'Kasur', 'Kasuri', so many times that now the entire world knows me as famous," he said at the rally. could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos. Reports suggest Kasuri has been given refuge by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, in Bahawalpur.
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Shashi Tharoor Urges Global Unity Against Terrorism After Pahalgam Attack
On May 24, 2025, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, addressing an audience at the Indian Consulate in New York, called for global solidarity in the fight against terrorism in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Leading an all-party delegation, Tharoor emphasized India's measured yet firm response to the attack, which targeted victims based on their religion, primarily Hindus, in an attempt to provoke communal unrest. Speaking after visiting the 9/11 Memorial, Tharoor highlighted the shared global challenge of terrorism, drawing parallels between the Pahalgam attack and the 9/11 tragedy. 'This is a global scourge, and we must unite to fight it,' he said, underscoring the delegation's mission to engage with political leaders, think tanks, and media across multiple countries to convey India's concerns and resolve. Tharoor detailed the Pahalgam attack, noting that the perpetrators, linked to the Resistance Front—a known front for the U.S.- and UN-sanctioned Lashkar-e-Taiba—claimed responsibility within an hour. He criticized Pakistan's denial of involvement and its role, with China's support, in removing references to the Resistance Front from a UN Security Council statement. Despite being an opposition leader, Tharoor praised India's response, which involved precise strikes on nine terrorist bases, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's headquarters in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammad's in Bahawalpur. He described these as 'calibrated' actions meant to deliver retribution without escalating into broader conflict. The delegation, including members like Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), and Tejaswi Surya (BJP), aims to project India's unified stance against terrorism. Tharoor noted the remarkable solidarity shown in Jammu and Kashmir, where people across religious lines condemned the attack, thwarting attempts to sow division. The group will continue its global outreach to reinforce India's zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism.
